Billionaire jeweller Nirav Modi has refused to join the CBI investigation in the $2 billion fraud in Punjab National Bank, citing his business engagements, prompting the agency to issue a stern letter on Wednesday asking him to appear before it next week.
In a terse letter, the Central Bureau of Investigation “directed” him to approach the Indian mission in the country where he is residing so that immediate arrangement can be made for his travel to India, officials said.
The agency has told him that it is mandatory for an accused to join the investigation whenever they are asked to, they said. He has been asked to appear for questioning next week.
The agency earlier wrote to Mr. Modi on his official e-mail asking him to join the investigation related to the ₹12,636-crore scam pertaining to fraudulent issuance of the LoUs and Letters of Credit (LCs) from the Brady House branch of PNB in Mumbai in favour of his and his uncle Mehul Choksi’s companies, the officials said.
In response, Mr. Modi refused to join the probe, saying he has businesses abroad because of which he cannot return.
